James Labrie - Mullmuzzler 2

1. Afterlife (5:21) 2. Venice Burning (4:48) 3. Confronting The Devil (6:20) 4. Falling (3:51) 5. Stranger (6:32) 6. A Simple Man (5:20) 7. Save Me (4:11) 8. Believe (5:00) 9. Listening (4:14) 10. Tell Me (5:14)

Total Running Time: 52:07

It has lately been quite a task to keep track of every new project involving any of Dream Theater's members. Everyone seems to be deeply involved with a musical endeavor of their own, if not several of them. Not being left out, James Labrie gave birth some time ago to what he called Mullmuzzler, an ambitious personal project with the purpose of pursuing new musical horizons and keeping his creativity fresh outside of his engagement with DT. Keep It To Yourself was conceived a few years back as the result of joint songwriting sessions with other prominent musicians of the prog rock genre. The record received good feedback from critics and created quite a stir among prog fans alike. It was just a matter of time for the follow-up album to introduce itself to the prog world, and so we receive this recording, simply titled Mullmuzzler 2.

As with the debut record, Dream Theater enthusiasts will most probably be able to appreciate the work done by James and his crew, but don't be expecting Petrucci or Portnoy to simply pop out of mid-air. If Keep It To Yourself (Mullmuzzler) clearly stated that Labrie was pulling away from his roots and exploring new waters, then Mullmuzzler 2 emphasizes this remark and brings it up a notch, going to extremes by showcasing songs that go from riff-oriented melodies with a heavier approach than ever before to mellow heartfelt pieces and passages, thus sinking deeper into an emotional front than its predecessor. Compositions were primarily written as joint efforts between Labrie and members of Dali's Dilemma, Shadow Gallery, and Trent Gardner, the latter of which only contributed to "Afterlife." Furthermore, songs are more likely to recall these bands than the well-known prog metal giant. This new release offers a sense of maturity that was slightly lacking on the debut album, giving a concise and solid structure to most compositions, focusing entirely on transmitting raw emotions and feelings with a powerful, impacting musical offering.

Songs go from boastingly heavy progressive metal ("Confronting the Devil") to smooth, delicate, swirling melodies ("Falling") that completely embrace the entire atmosphere around us. The synths, distorted guitars, and bass glide perfectly, creating an ideal musical layout for Labrie's melodic vocal lines to gracefully shine. Never before have I heard such technical control of vocal melodies on behalf of Labrie. He covers a wide dynamic and expressional range, balancing melodies with both an elegant frailty and a fierce attitude, manifesting his emotions deep down to the core. But recognition shouldn't stop there. Matt Guillory (Dali's Dilemma), was the mastermind behind many of the record's musical ideas, while the allied guitar front formed by Keneally and Borkosky and Mike Mangini's solid drumming technique and feel are sure to be noted as well, as they lay down the backbone for the whole musical atmosphere with a powerful riffs and grooves.

Ultimately, Mullmuzzler 2 is a very good record. It's a true outlet of expression through greatly arranged, deeply insightful songs, one of the vital characteristics generally left out during most prog metal releases. A balance is found between great riffs and true emotion. Clearly, attention is rightfully focused where it needs to: the "feel" and natural essence of the music.

-by Javier Elizondo

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